Angola crowned champion of Afrobasket Women 2013

Angola have successfully defended their Afrobasket Women title by beating host Mozambique 61-64 in final yesterday in Maputo in front the cheering but disappointed home crowds.

The female Palancas Negras are crowned champions of Africa for the second time consecutive, and will participate at the 2014 Basket-ball World Championships alongside losing finalists Mozambique and Senegal.

Senegal beat Cameroon 56-53 to take home the bronze medal. The second defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses, who were still recovering from surprisingly losing to Mozambique a day before.

Angola and Mozambique offered the fans watching from the stands and on TV and online across the globe an excellent and beautiful game full of emotions, vibe and rebounds.

The two top teams were tied 54-54 after the four periods, and had to play a five-minute extra-time which saw the Angolans demonstrating that they were the best team in Africa – yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Angola captain Nacessila Mauricio was named the tournament’s most valuable player (MVP) as she led her country to another Afrobasket for Women title.

Mauricio also made it to the continent’s Top-5 players list, a team that includes Mozambique captain and point guard Deolinda Ngulela and her teammate Leia Dongue, (best centre), Senegal’s Astou Traoré (championship highest scorer and best forward),and lastly Cameroon’s shooting guard Ramres Lonlack.

The role of honour continues with Mali duo of Nagnouma Coulibaly and Fatoumata Bagayoko winning the 2013 Afrobasket for Women best rebounder award and best three-point shooter. Egypt won the tournament’s fair play trophy.

About Issa Sikiti da Silva

Issa Sikiti da Silva is an award-winning African journalist, a humanitarian and founder of Sifa News (ex-Moon of the South), He has travelled extensively across Africa and his work has been published in more than 40 media outlets based in South Africa, Zimbabwe, DRC, Namibia, Europe and Qatar. He won the SADC Media 2010 Awards in print category.
Follow him on Twitter at @sikitimedia or email him at dasilvasikiti@gmail.com..